Labour's First Century

Why has a party that has achieved so much nonetheless spent so much of the twentieth century in opposition? Labour's First Century is the only book that assesses this anomaly. Written by a team of acknowledged experts, it covers a wide range of key issues, from economic policy to gender. Their essays challenge those who minimize the party's contribution and explain why mistakes and weaknesses have occurred. Everyone interested in British political history--whether supporters or opponents of the Labour Party--will need to read Labour's First Century.

Contents

Introduction Duncan Tanner, Pat Thane and Nick Tiratsoo;
1. Labour’s political and social thought Jose Harris;
2. Labour and the economy Jim Tomlinson;
3. Labour and welfare Pat Thane;
4. Labour and international affairs Stephen Howe;
5. Labour and the constitution Miles Taylor;
6. Labour and gender Martin Francis;
7. Labour and the trade unions Alastair J. Reid;
8. Labour and its membership Duncan Tanner;
9. Labour and the electorate Nick Tiratsoo;
10. Labour in comparative perspective Stefan Berger;
11. Labour - the myths it has lived by Jon Lawrence;
12. New Labour and the past Steven Fielding;
Appendix I. Labour and the electorate, 1900–1997;
Appendix II. Labour Party membership; Index.

Reviews

"Labour's First Century, along with the Brivati/Heffernan volume and Andrew Thorpe's 1997 history, provides the best possible understanding of the party's development into a major force in British politics." History: Reviews of New Books

"these books are in fact useful additions to existing accounts of the party's development." Albion

Contributors

Duncan Tanner, Pat Thane, Nick Tiratsoo, Jose Harris, Jim Tomlinson, Stephen Howe, Miles Taylor, Martin Francis, Alastair J. Reid, Stefan Berger, Jon Lawrence, Steven Fielding